The nomination of Dr Willy Munyoki Mutunga, a lawyer and political activist, to take charge of the country's Judiciary will breathe a new lease of life into the tainted institution.

In what is clearly a break with the past, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) named Ms Nancy Baraza, also a product of the civil society and a former commissioner at the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, for the position of Deputy Chief Justice. And with that the JSC opted not to go for the experienced judges and sent the message that it desires a clean break from the past and a complete metamorphosis of the Judiciary.

The two names will now be forwarded to the President before being subjected to parliamentary approval.

Following the overwhelming approval of the two nominees by a cross section of Kenyans yesterday, it is highly likely that they will be the persons Kenya will entrust the responsibility of creating a new judicial order.

Products of civil society

Apart from the fact that they are lawyers, both Mutunga and Barasa are products of the civil society, the former having served as the Executive Director of Kenya Human Rights Commission for many years and the later as chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida-Kenya).

Mutunga, emerged the best candidate among the ten who were short-listed and interviewed for the position, and moved a step closer to being the country